The Eclipse at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

We were at the Indianapolis Motor Speed way on April 8th, 2024 for the total solar eclipse.  The Indianapolis Motor Speedway in partnership with Purdue University and NASA hosted an event to view the eclipse, hear live educational talks, and watch an IndyCar demo. During this event, NSE launched two high altitude weather balloons, one of which carried student experiments from the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired high into the stratosphere! We also participated in the STEM Symposium and had a booth with interactive educational activities. Our partnership with Tactile Engineering was an incredible opportunity to allow visually impaired individuals to "feel" the data being transmitted from the balloon as well as the progression of the eclipse!

IMS Event Recap and Photos

Other Locations

We also visited events all across Indiana launching high-altitude balloons!  This was an amazing chance to gather valuable scientific data, and some incredible footage (Check out our Youtube)!  See some of our locations below!

Locations:

• Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Main Location)
• NSE Eclipsefest (Upland)
• Ballard Field (Marion)
• Taylor University (Upland)
• Science Central (Fort Wayne)
• Southern Indiana University
• Indiana Academy (Muncie)
• Linton-Stockton High School
• Allen County Public Library - Monroeville

What Is a Solar Eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, blocking out the Sun's light completely or partially from certain areas on Earth. On April 8th, the eclipse will begin as the Moon moves in front of the Sun, gradually covering it until it completely obscures the Sun for a brief period, creating a temporary twilight-like darkness in the path of totality. During totality, the Sun's corona—the outer atmosphere—becomes visible as a glowing halo around the darkened disk of the Moon. Outside the path of totality, observers will witness a partial solar eclipse, where only a portion of the Sun is blocked by the Moon. It's essential to use proper eye protection or indirect viewing methods to observe the eclipse safely. To learn more about solar eclipses, check out this great video from National Geographic.